Interpretive Summary: To find if there are some signatory proteins associated with different cell types we studied two immunity related cells, macrophages and neutrophils, in chicken blood using an instrument called mass spectrometry. Our results show the presence of a protein named thymosin in the macrophages which takes part in resolving inflammation.

Technical Abstract:
The aim of the study was to determine chicken monocyte and granulocyte associated peptides and proteins using "whole cell" matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and to characterize the peptides based on their abundance. The mass spectra showed a prominent peak at m/z 4963 in monocytes/macrophages but not in the granulocytes. Subsequent purification and characterization of the 4963 peptide from the macrophage cell line HTC revealed it to be thymosin B4 (TB4), an actin modulating peptide. HTC cells when treated with bacterial lipopolysacharide and peptidoglycan to determine the modulation of TB4 gene expression or its secretion showed no changes.